Apparatus for assessing or mitigating insurance risk

• US 9,552,681 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (International) Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (International) Inc.
• Inventors: Burger, William Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, MICHAEL ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/454,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20150081134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/00 Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis vaccination prophylaxis, vaccination therapy A61B17/20; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination menstruation tables G06C3/00; Throat striking implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0003 including means for analysis by an unskilled person
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0009 Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

The apparatus, which is used with a vehicle, comprises a breath alcohol sensor and a computing device. The computing device is operatively coupled in use to the sensor and the vehicle and configured to record data: which provides information indicative of the likelihood that the vehicle has been operated in circumstances wherein a breath sample has not been delivered to the sensor within a predetermined period preceding the commencement of said operation; and associated with the delivery of breath samples to the sensor that contain alcohol in excess of a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method for assessing or mitigating insurance risk, comprising:

providing a breath alcohol sensor for use in a vehicle owned or operated by an insured;

providing a computing device operatively coupled in use to the sensor and the vehicle and configured for recording data, the data comprising;

data which provides information regarding periods when the computing device is coupled to the vehicle and a breath sample has not been delivered to the sensor within a predetermined period preceding a commencement of operation of the vehicle;

data which provides information regarding periods when the computing device is uncoupled from the vehicle; and

data associated with breath samples delivered to the sensor that contain alcohol in excess of a predetermined threshold that is less than an impaired driving threshold applicable in a jurisdiction of use; and

providing the recorded data to an insurer;

wherein the computing device is adapted to permit operation of the vehicle both when the breath sample is delivered to the sensor and when the breath sample has not been delivered to the sensor; and

the data does not include data indicating that the breath sample contains alcohol at a level exceeding the impaired driving threshold.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing of the recorded data by the insurer to compute an availability of a reduced insurance premium for the insured.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the computing device is coupled to the vehicle in use via a standardized communication port of the vehicle which provides real time data about the vehicle.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the predetermined period preceding the commencement of operation is defined with reference to one or more of:

information regarding vehicle running status obtained from the port;

information regarding engine RPM obtained from the port; and

information regarding vehicle distance traveled obtained from the port.

5. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the port comprises an OBD-II port.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the computing device records the data during any periods in which the apparatus is coupled to the vehicle.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the computing device records the data during any periods in which the apparatus is coupled to the vehicle and information regarding any vehicles to which it is coupled.